Updated: Tuesday, January 13, 2026
The University of Georgia, or UGA, is a popular public institution that attracts thousands of applicants each year. It has become increasingly selective in recent years, making admissions competitive. Understanding admissions trends and the University of Georgia acceptance rate for the class of 2029 is essential for developing your application strategy.
It’s important to understand that because UGA is a state school, in-state students are given preference and therefore have higher admission rates than out-of-state and international students. In fact, it is UGA’s goal to enroll a class each year that is made up of approximately 80% Georgia students.
Listed below are the admission rates for the past four admissions cycles:
These rates reflect the current trend for national college acceptance rates, as many institutions are seeing an increase in applications and a decrease in admission rates. What does this mean for you? If you plan to apply to UGA, understanding admissions trends is crucial for a successful application strategy.
We already mentioned UGA’s preference for in-state students as one of the factors influencing acceptance rates. Another is application volume. The University of Georgia received a record number of applications for the class of 2029 — nearly 48,000. This naturally lowers the acceptance rate, as the number of available spots in the class remains relatively fixed from year to year. Let’s look at some of the factors that are more directly related to how the admissions committee reviews applicants.
Like most U.S. institutions, UGA uses a holistic review process when evaluating applicants. Typically, this means that the admissions committee looks at both quantitative (hard) and qualitative (soft) factors to understand who the student is both inside and outside of the classroom. However, some of these factors are prioritized more than others. Let’s look at the specific factors UGA admissions evaluates that ultimately impact acceptance rates.
The hard factors in a holistic review include:
For UGA, your high school grades play the primary role in your admissions chances. Your transcript needs to show that you completed the required core courses; however, to be a competitive applicant, you must also take the most rigorous courses you can be successful in.
The University of Georgia requires SAT or ACT scores, which are superscored by the admissions office. Additionally, your school counselor will submit a secondary school report, which provides more information about your school and your academic record.
These factors are non-academic and tell the admissions committee more about you as a person. They include:
UGA considers these secondary factors, but they are still important since they set you apart from other applicants with similar academic records. Focus as much on these as you do the hard factors of your application, since these factors will likely determine your acceptance.
Wondering how to get into University of Georgia? Gaining admission is a process that begins your first day in high school. It’s important to lay the foundation for a competitive profile early in high school and continue building on it with each passing year. Let’s look at what you should do holistically to improve your chances of success.
Understanding University of Georgia admissions statistics can give you a better idea of what the university looks for in applicants. Looking at the UGA class of 2029 profile can help you determine what GPA and test scores to shoot for so you can improve your chances of admission.
For example, 98% of admitted students took at least one advanced course. The middle 50% of admitted students had a score range of 1300-1470 on the SAT and 30-34 on the ACT — admitted honors students had even higher scores. As for the average GPA for University of Georgia — the middle 50% of students had a range of 4.07-4.35, with honors students having a higher GPA range. If you aspire to be a bulldog, your academic stats should be comparable.
Be intentional about the extracurricular activities you choose to engage in. In a holistic review, admissions committees look for deep, sustained involvement — quality over quantity. Choose extracurriculars that align with your interests and look for ways to demonstrate leadership within these activities. Your extracurriculars not only help UGA understand how you can contribute to the campus community, but they can also inspire compelling and impactful personal statements and supplemental essays.
Finally, work on cultivating good teacher relationships, especially in classes that are related to your interests. As a result, you will get strong letters of recommendation from teachers who know you well and can make a compelling case for your admission.
As with most colleges and universities, UGA will offer most students financial aid packages that include a combination of federal and institutional aid. To receive federal aid, you must fill out the FAFSA. UGA will then determine your federal aid award, which can take the form of work-study programs, grants, and loans. Additionally, students may qualify for a variety of scholarships from national, state, institutional, or private sources. These can be either merit or need based.
Students who have demonstrated academic success have access to University of Georgia scholarship opportunities. Most of these scholarships are based on the strength of the application for admission and do not require an additional application. Some of these scholarships are for in-state students only; others are available to out-of-state and international students.
In-state students can apply for the state-funded HOPE and Zell Miller Scholarships, which are awarded for academic achievement. These scholarships make UGA incredibly affordable, which increases the number of in-state applications and the quality of the applicant pool. This has allowed UGA to become increasingly selective in recent years, lowering the acceptance rate.
UGA offers more than 160 majors as well as minor and certificate programs. Popular University of Georgia major programs include business and management, biological and biomedical sciences, communication and journalism, social sciences, psychology, engineering, and education, among others. The university has several highly ranked undergraduate programs, including business, accounting and finance, agricultural sciences, communications, and sports management.
University of Georgia campus life plays a pivotal role in enhancing the overall college experience and nurturing Bulldog pride. In fact, UGA is well-known for having a campus culture that contributes to student satisfaction and success. With more than 700 clubs and organizations to choose from, students can pursue almost any interest and meet like-minded people. Traditions are also an important part of life on campus. One notable tradition involves the famed UGA Arch — it is said that if students walk under it before graduation, they will have bad luck and may not graduate on time or at all.
For students hoping to attend UGA, campus visits are the best way to get a feel for the culture and community. Seeing the campus in person allows you to picture yourself there, talk to current students and admissions staff, and explore the surrounding town of Athens. Check out the University of Georgia campus visit schedule and register for a tour and information session. You may also have the option to tour one of the schools or colleges on campus.
The University of Georgia application process requires either the Common Application or the UGA Application. Included in the Common App is your personal statement, supplemental essay, and activities list.
In addition, you will need to submit these supplemental materials:
A recommendation letter is optional, but we highly recommend including one in your application. Ideally, it should be from a teacher who knows you well and can describe the impact you have made both inside and outside of the classroom.
For first-year students, UGA offers two application options: Early Action and Regular Decision. The University of Georgia Early Action deadline for the 2025-26 application cycle is October 15, though students have an additional two weeks to submit the supplemental materials. The Regular Decision deadline at UGA is January 1, with additional materials being due on January 15.
When it comes to Early Action vs Regular Decision, you may wonder which option is best for you. Early Action is ideal for students who already have strong grades and test scores by the start of senior year, consider UGA to be one of their top choices, and can submit a compelling and cohesive application before the deadline. By applying Early Action, you have the benefit of receiving your decision in December but still have until May 1 to decide where you want to enroll. Students who need more time to work on their application, bring their grades up, and take the ACT or SAT again may find Regular Decision to be the more practical option.
You will likely spend the most time working on your personal statement and UGA specific essay. These essays should focus on who you are rather than what you’ve done — the transcript shows your “what,” and the essays provide your “why.” Follow these University of Georgia admission essay tips:
Looking at historical college acceptance trends can help us understand what’s going on currently in the admissions landscape and what we might expect in the future. As we have already shown, admission rates at many colleges and universities, including the University of Georgia, have been on the decline over the past several admissions cycles.
Several factors impact these admission rates, but application volume is a notable example that can help us predict what’s ahead. Due to lack of standardized testing access during the pandemic, most schools adopted test-optional policies. Consequently, many reported record-high numbers of application submissions, since testing was no longer a barrier for many applicants. This caused a dip in admissions rates, since the number of admits stays relatively static each year. Many selective schools are now reinstating testing requirements, reversing the test-optional trend. This means we could see a decrease in the application volume at many schools, which could result in higher acceptance rates.
Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down race-conscious admissions in 2023. Most colleges, including UGA, value a diverse student body. Because schools are no longer allowed to directly consider race in their admissions decisions, many have added prompts that give students the opportunity to share their backgrounds and diverse life experiences. These essays serve as a loophole to get around the SCOTUS ruling.
However, the Department of Justice recently published a memo declaring that diversity, equity and inclusion practices are unlawful and discriminatory. This may further change how colleges admit students going forward and how diverse their student body will be. It is difficult to speculate on how this might impact admission rates, but it could discourage some students from applying to college.
You might think that where you live only matters when applying to public colleges and universities. For example, if you’re applying to a state flagship like UGA, you will be given priority as an in-state student. After all, state-funded institutions have an obligation to serve the state first.
However, geography also impacts admissions at selective private schools, such as the Ivies and liberal arts colleges. These institutions value geographic diversity. This means that if you live in a sparsely populated region, you may get an edge over an applicant in a densely populated area simply because you can bring a perspective to campus that it currently lacks. Additionally, due to the ban on race-conscious admissions, highly selective colleges and universities may start shifting away from areas where they heavily recruit in favor of under-represented areas.
Understanding UGA’s admission statistics can help you better position yourself as a competitive applicant. Whether you’re an in-state or out-of-state applicant, you must demonstrate high achievement in both academics and extracurriculars to join UGA’s ranks. Every element of your application must contribute to an overall cohesive and compelling narrative that shows why you belong there and what impact you will make on campus.
As UGA grows in popularity, you can expect more competition for admission and a continuing decline in acceptance rates. That’s why most students can benefit from working with an independent college admissions counselor. At IvyWise, each counselor has at least three years of experience in admissions at some of the most highly selective schools in the world. They have read thousands of applications, so they know what makes some students stand out from their peers. If you want to achieve that “wow factor” that can open the door to UGA, contact us today.
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Choosing between in-state and out-of-state colleges is an important decision that can significantly impact your college experience. In-state institutions often offer financial advantages, with lower tuition costs and potential access to state-funded scholarships. However, out-of-state colleges may provide unique opportunities, diverse cultural experiences, and access to specialized programs not available locally. Keep reading to learn more about in-state vs. out-of-state colleges.
